Top 10 Tips to Avoid Germ-Giving This Christmas

With Christmas fast approaching it’s important to remember that when celebrating among family and friends, germs are a gift no one wants to receive. It is a time of sharing and high spirits, but these useful tips will help prevent unwanted germs arriving and let you have a happy and healthy Christmas.

1. Wash your hands

Always wash and dry your hands thoroughly before preparing food. In the rush to get everything ready don’t forget to do this simple step to stop germs from spreading.

2. Clean all surfaces regularly

Food preparation areas as well as food consumption areas are very susceptible to germs as bacteria can build up faster than people think. Germs that cause food poisoning can linger for days in the sink. Craig Jones, from Australian microfiber cleaning company White Magic wwww.whitemagic.biz, says that the kitchen sponge can harbour more germs than a toilet seat, up to 10 million bacteria per square inch!

3. Avoid cross-contamination of your food

Using different utensils for meat and other foods will help stop germs spreading. Ensure all your foods are prepared properly as harmful bacteria can easily splash from raw meat onto bench tops, chopping boards and utensils. Using microfibre cloths also helps prevent the spread of bacteria, as the White Magic Kitchen Surfaces Cloth (RRP $9.95) contains nano silver in the fibres that kill bacteria in the cloth within 24-28hrs.

4.Look after your fridge

In the heat of summer your fridge is already working overtime, then we add all the extra meals for Christmas lunch. Be sure to check your fridge is at the right temperature (below 5°C) to stop germs from growing. Also, don’t pack the fridge too tightly, the food will be a lot healthier if there is cold air circulating in the fridge.

5. Fully defrost your meat

Make sure your turkey, chicken or even prawns are fully defrosted before cooking and separate all your meat from other foods in the fridge.

6. Cook thoroughly

Make sure everything is cooked thoroughly as uncooked meat harbours unwanted bacteria. For example, don’t get too excited about the Turkey and take it out before its cooked through. Turkey should not be pink at all and the juices that run out should be clear.

7. Don’t forget the veggies

Food safety at Christmas is not just about turkeys and prawns, it’s important to peel and wash your vegetables as necessary because soil can sometimes carry harmful bacteria. Washing with a vegetable brush, such as the Fruit and Vegetable Brush from White Magic (RRP $ 10.95), will quickly remove excess dirt and bacteria available at www.whitemagic.biz.

8. Look after your leftovers

Use leftovers safely. It’s horrible to waste food, especially at Christmas, so be sure to eat the leftovers within two days to avoid the spread of bacteria. Freeze any leftovers you know you can’t eat within two hours of cooking it.

9. Identify the contagious cousins

If a relative or friend shows up with the sniffles its best to avoid any physical contact, especially hugs and kisses, as this can cause infection and spread illness fast.

10. Have an eco-friendly christmas

Don’t overdo the chemicals as when cleaning with chemicals they will leave a residue – this residue may be harmful when consumed, come into contact with skin or eyes or when inhaled according to Asthma Australia. White Magic’s Microfibre Eco Cloths simply pick up the bacteria and then dispose the germs down the drain when the cloth is washed or laundered.

Worse than socks or deodourant, germs really can spoil your festive season, and remember if you happen to get sick this Christmas don’t be the one to regift!